Lionel 2127300 RPO: too small for Southwestern set?

Nope.  RPO's are traditionally shorter cars, usually 60 or 70 feet long.

There were a few 80' RPO's, but not many.

Rusty

@Uncle Will posted:

Question about the Lionel 2127300 RPO?  It is an 11.5 inch RPO car that Lionel groups with its Southwestern Limited set which includes 21 " cars  [http://catalogs.lionel.com/2020/C2/].  The RPO seems too small to be prototypical and too small to go with that set.  Is that the case?

Thanks for any opinions or advice.

I saw that too.  While RPO's were shorter, what does that scale out to?  44 feet?  I think Lionel's catalog dimensions are incorrect.

FWIW, I just measured a couple of my Lionel heavyweight RPO and baggage cars.  They are 16.25" to the couplers ends.  About 16" to ends of the diaphragms.  My cars are from 2018 catalog and are also incorrectly marked at 11.25" in the catalog.  See here

Ooops...  Missed length on the text.

Lionel has been known for typos and Cut 'n Paste-itis.

Rusty

As long as we're beating a dead horse.  Here's some actual photo evidence of my RPO from the 2018 catalog.  Again, catalog says 11.25", measures 16.25".

Speaking of a dead horse, this typo was brought up a while back.  These cars use the old Weaver molds for both this RPO and the similar ex-Weaver baggage car and are 16" (or 16.25") long.  They are good looking cars.

Thanks Rusty and Mike.  It is good to know the real size and the fact that others think it is a nice car too.   I am now an owner.

CAPPilot       Thanks to you too for the background and your opinion.  It was very influential in my buying decision.